Burlington Coat Factory coming to Ocala

Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 12:19 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 3:25 p.m.

Consistent temperatures in the 70s in recent days may signal the arrival of an early spring, and the need to put those winter garments back in storage.

But should winter make a comeback, necessitating the need for a new coat, a soon-to-arrive retail outlet might help.

On Wednesday, Burlington Coat Factory announced that it is opening a new store in the Shady Oaks Shopping Center at State Road 200 and Southwest 27th Avenue in Ocala.

According to a company press release, Burlington will take up residence in the former Kmart at the plaza, a 65,000-square-foot site.

This new location will bring about 75 new jobs to the community. The store will be one of 32 Burlington locations within Florida.

"We are thrilled to open a new Burlington in the Ocala community, bringing jobs to the neighborhood and providing area residents with a valued shopping experience," Thomas Kingsbury, the company's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Kevin Sheilley, president and CEO of the Ocala-Marion County Chamber of Economic Partnership, and a recent transplant from Kentucky, said he was surprised that Burlington didn't already have a store here.

"They know their market, and they're going to provide more opportunities for people to spend their money in Ocala-Marion County," said Sheilley, adding that he welcomed the new jobs, including the construction work that will be done to renovate the site.

The work will rid Ocala of one of his personal pet annoyances: an empty building.

The 41-year-old retailer operates roughly 500 stores in 44 states and Puerto Rico. In the statement, company officials pointed out that the retailer has evolved from just selling coats to offering a variety of "brag-worthy" brand-name goods.

Those include clothing for men, women and children as well as suits, sportswear and footwear.

The new store will also offer baby furniture and accessories, home furnishings and the "largest selection of coats in the nation," with Burlington prices up to two-thirds off those charged at other department stores, the press release said.

The July 2012 issue of Stores magazine, a publication of the National Retail Federation, ranked Burlington as the 88th largest retailer in the country, with sales topping $3.8 billion in 2011.

<p>Consistent temperatures in the 70s in recent days may signal the arrival of an early spring, and the need to put those winter garments back in storage.</p><p>But should winter make a comeback, necessitating the need for a new coat, a soon-to-arrive retail outlet might help.</p><p>On Wednesday, Burlington Coat Factory announced that it is opening a new store in the Shady Oaks Shopping Center at State Road 200 and Southwest 27th Avenue in Ocala.</p><p>According to a company press release, Burlington will take up residence in the former Kmart at the plaza, a 65,000-square-foot site.</p><p>This new location will bring about 75 new jobs to the community. The store will be one of 32 Burlington locations within Florida.</p><p>"We are thrilled to open a new Burlington in the Ocala community, bringing jobs to the neighborhood and providing area residents with a valued shopping experience," Thomas Kingsbury, the company's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.</p><p>Kevin Sheilley, president and CEO of the Ocala-Marion County Chamber of Economic Partnership, and a recent transplant from Kentucky, said he was surprised that Burlington didn't already have a store here.</p><p>"They know their market, and they're going to provide more opportunities for people to spend their money in Ocala-Marion County," said Sheilley, adding that he welcomed the new jobs, including the construction work that will be done to renovate the site.</p><p>The work will rid Ocala of one of his personal pet annoyances: an empty building.</p><p>The 41-year-old retailer operates roughly 500 stores in 44 states and Puerto Rico. In the statement, company officials pointed out that the retailer has evolved from just selling coats to offering a variety of "brag-worthy" brand-name goods.</p><p>Those include clothing for men, women and children as well as suits, sportswear and footwear.</p><p>The new store will also offer baby furniture and accessories, home furnishings and the "largest selection of coats in the nation," with Burlington prices up to two-thirds off those charged at other department stores, the press release said.</p><p>The July 2012 issue of Stores magazine, a publication of the National Retail Federation, ranked Burlington as the 88th largest retailer in the country, with sales topping $3.8 billion in 2011.</p><p>Among clothing retailers, the New Jersey-based chain posted the sixth-highest sales tally, narrowly trailing Foot Locker.</p><p>Burlington is owned by Bain Capital, the venture capital firm started by last year's Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney.</p><p><i>Contact Bill Thompson at 867-4117 or bill.thompson@starbanner.com</i></p>